PI EXCLUSIVE … LEWIN SPEAKS ON AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY RESIGNATION:Jack Lewin’s unplanned resignation from the American College of Cardiology on Friday came after his nearly six years at the helm of the organization. In an interview with PI, Lewin wouldn’t discuss why he and ACC parted ways, but he’s already looking at new opportunities for the life after. “The specifics for that departure from ACC are really between the college and me,” Lewin told PI. “I could have stayed longer. I have an opportunity to reflect on new things.” Lewin says that ACC’s chief operating officer, now interim-CEO Tom Arend, has been groomed to take on his old responsibilities while the college launches a search for its new CEO.

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Lewin, a former CEO of the California Medical Association, hasn’t yet decided where he’ll land next, but opportunities have already come knocking. “I’ve got a couple of career moves left in me. I have a couple of offers,” Lewin says, noting that he’ll take a few weeks before making a final decision. “I’m doing some consulting, and I’m working with a number of folks like myself who are trying to figure out what to do if the Supreme Court goes this way or what to do if the Supreme Court goes that way.”

BREAKING … FEC PUTS OFF FEINSTEIN EMBEZZLEMENT OPINION: Our Robin Bravender is at FEC headquarters today, where she reports the commission wants more time to consider the request of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to ask maxed out donors for more money to make up for the $4.5 million allegedly embezzled by her former campaign treasurer, Kinde Durkee. The FEC debated the question for nearly two hours Thursday while questioning Feinstein's campaign lawyer, Marc Elias. Elias told the committee that donors have a constitutional right to support candidates within donation limits and should be allowed to make up for the stolen cash.

Commissioners, meanwhile, expressed concerns about the broader implications of making exceptions for campaigns to solicit contributions from maxed out donors. The panel's first draft advisory opinion rejected Feinstein's request ( http://bit.ly/HtcZ7q). FEC Chairwoman Caroline Hunter said the panel will wait to respond to the request until after its next public meeting on April 26, and may issue a revised draft opinion in the meantime.

AFL-CIO SUPER PAC TO CHART OWN COURSE: The AFL-CIO's super PAC announced Thursday that it plans to strike out on its own in 2012, rather than supporting specific candidates or the Democratic Party. Read Abby’s full story here: http://politi.co/HDZ4cB

A sporting Thursday to you, PI fans, as one half of your team of scribes (Dave) remains somewhere between Earth and soccer heaven today, having last night lived out a boyhood dream by pretending to be a professional soccer player. The evening — thanks to the greatest birthday present ever courtesy of wife, Michelle — involved a two-hour practice session with members of D.C. United, which proved two things: There’s still enough pop in his thirtysomething-year-old right foot to put a shot past goalkeeper Joe Willis, and that if he attempted to do this every day, he’d die. (If you’re a lobbyist from the American Physical Therapy Association, promptly contact us.) Here’s Dave’s fan boy souvenir photo with D.C. United defender Daniel Woolard: http://bit.ly/IrcESI

Have a great day, and now, back to the latest in influence industry news …

ROSEN DUST-UP OVER ROMNEY: SKDKnickerbocker's Hilary Rosen created a firestorm last night over her comments about Ann Romney "never working a day in her life" and the controversy is continuing. While the White House has tried to distance itself from Rosen — with David Axelrod going so far as to tweet about it — PI readers will remember that Rosen and the White House aren't so distant. At the State Dinner in March, Rosen attended with her client John Kelly of Microsoft. Click here for more on the continuing spat: http://politi.co/Ij1ECi

LAND RIGHTS ADVOCATES MAKING MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL BREAK LOBBYING PUSH: Just because Congress is on break doesn’t mean the American Land Rights Association isn’t launching a lobbying effort to block significant Land and Water Conservation Fund funding as part of this year’s transportation bill. The group argues that such funding would imperil private property by providing the U.S. Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management with added cash to acquire private property. “Deluge your Congressman with calls, faxes and e-mails from now until the end of April. Call any Congressman. … You must make his or her phone come off the hook. Ask him or her to oppose any version of the highway bill that has LWCF land acquisition funding inside,” a message to its mailing list states.

“And we’re making sure that now, when they’re in their districts, that congressmen are hearing from us, too,” American Land Rights Association Executive Director Chuck Cushman tells PI. “The environmental groups are going to put on a full-court press to promote this, and they’re bigger than us, but we’re very competitive and think we’re motivating a lot of people.”

PAC EXPLAINS ‘FAILED’ INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT LED TO EMBEZZLEMENT: The International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers PAC is explaining to the FEC in a lengthy letter the circumstances surrounding what it says was the embezzlement of nearly $500,000 by a former employee. “The embezzlement took place despite the presence of several internal controls,” the PAC wrote to the FEC. “With respect to the committee, there was neither a knowing nor a willful violation … There were internal controls in place, but in this instance those controls failed.” Read the full letter here: http://bit.ly/HDscTm

FROM GENERAL TO ELECTRIC:Marco A. Giamberardino, formerly a senior director of government affairs for the Associated General Contractors of America, has jumped over to the National Electrical Contractors Association, where he’s now working as the organization’s executive director of government affairs. Lobbying is a growth area for the National Electrical Contractors Association, with federal records showing it spent more on lobbying last year — more than $310,000 — than it has in any previous year.

VENG GROUP NAMES NEW PARTNER: George C. Wu, formerly the executive director of the Organization of Chinese Americans, is joining D.C.-based government relations and public affairs firm VENG Group as a partner. “He brings a wealth of policy, political and communications expertise that will benefit our clients and the community,” Vincent A. Eng, the firm’s chief executive, said of Wu. Wu’s first major task will be opening the firm’s Los Angeles office, where he’ll work as its managing partner.

EIA TAPS KNEISS AS CEO: The Environmental Industry Associations has named Sharon Kneiss as president and CEO. Bruce Parker, the current president and CEO, announced that he will retire at the end of the year after a 30-year career in the industry. “We are pleased to announce that Sharon Kneiss will be leading the EIA effective June 1, and will bring significant insight and knowledge to our industry,” said EIA Chairman Charlie Appleby. Kneiss has worked as a VP at the American Chemistry Council, and in roles at the American Forest and Paper Association, Chevron Corporation, Hercules Inc., and the American Petroleum Institute.

GEORGIAN BILLIONAIRE STORMS K STREET: Anna has the latest on a Georgian billionaire hiring up more than half a dozen lobbying and public affairs shops since the beginning of the year. The offensive comes as he is looking to become an official candidate for prime minister. Click here to learn more about what Patton Boggs, BGR Group, Downey McGrath Group and Parry, Romani, DeConcini and Symms, and others are doing: http://politi.co/Iyv81s

FREEDOMWORKS WADES INTO CATO DISPUTE: While the Koch/ Cato Institute feud over the direction of the think tank has continued in Washington and in the legal arena, FreedomWorks is now wading into the dicey politics. "While we do not pretend to know all of the particulars of the dispute over ownership shares, it is clear that this hostile takeover bid, if successful, will do irreparable harm to the credibility of Cato, and equally important, will undermine our community’s intellectual defenses at a time when the progressive left seems more committed than ever in their aggressive pursuit of government control of the American economy and the most personal decisions of its individual citizens," FreedomWorks's senior leadership wrote. The statement was put out by former Rep. Dick Armey (R-Texas), C. Boyden Gray and Matt Kibbe. Stay tuned on Koch reaction.

RANGEL CHALLENGER DRAWS HIGH-PROFILE NAMES: Clyde Williams, who is challenging Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), got some financial love from some of D.C.'s power set in the first quarter of 2012. Backers include: Office of the Vice President's Tony Blinken and Evan Ryan; White House's Caroline Atkinson; Glover Park Group's Joel Johnson; Discovery Communications' David Leavy; and Goldman Sachs's Jake Siewert, according to a PI tipster.

Williams moved to New York City in 2001 when he worked for President Bill Clinton at his Foundation in Harlem. Philip Deutch and Nicole Elkon recently played host to an event that felt like a reunion, according to the tipster. Other contributors include: Recording Industry Association of America's Michele Ballantyne; former White House Counsel's Greg Craig and Dan Meltzer; State Department's Sheba Crocker, Andrew Shapiro and Aviva Rosenthal; former White House Domestic Policy Council's Derek Douglas and Sonal Shah; and the FCC's Josh Gottheimer, among others.

BUSINESS LOBBY LEADERS PONDER GROWTH:SAP co-CEO Bill McDermott this morning hosted a forum at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in which a cadre of business lobby leaders mulled small-business growth and public/private partnerships. Attendees included former Gov. John Engler of the Business Roundtable, Jay Timmons of the National Association of Manufacturers, Matthew Shay of the National Retail Federation, former Gov. Frank Keating of the American Bankers Association; former Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Mo.) who now leads the National Federation of Independent Business’ Small Businesses for Sensible Regulations group, Karen Kerrigan of the Small Business Entrepreneurship Council and Shawn Osborne of TechAmerica.

PALIN PAC SPENDS BIG — BUT NOT ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES:Sarah Palin’s political action committee raised $388,000 in the first three months of the year, but it spent $418,000 and didn’t give a dime to any candidates — which is the purported purpose of the PAC. Our Kenneth P. Vogel has the story: http://politi.co/HDYmft

VETS TO HILL: Morning Defense has the early word on more than 150 members of the Military Officers Association of America engaging in a lobbying blitz next Wednesday. "Participants, who hail from all 50 states, will urge lawmakers to fight back against two elements of President Obama's budget plan: reductions in force levels and increases in TRICARE fees, according to a news release due out later today," MD reports.

HUSEMAN TO AMAZON: Intel's Brian Huseman is heading to Amazon to be the company's director of federal policy focused on privacy issues, Morning Tech reports. Huseman has been an Intel since 2008, and has previously been at the FTC, where he served as chief of staff to the chairman.

@LobbyitsInfo A demonstration of the global reach of Lobbyists.Info: we just entered a #FARA filing from North Korea

HUMBLEBRAG: Enjoy reading POLITICO Influence and the greater POLITICO website at large? We're excited that our website has been named one of five finalists for the Webby award in politics website category. While the board selects the Webby Awards's winners — the online public chooses "The People's Voice Award Winners." You can start voting through April 26. Please cast your ballot here: http://bit.ly/Iy4rHJ

DAILY FUNNY: You’ve certainly seen the Texts From Hillary blog, which is announcing that it’s quitting ( http://politi.co/IyGSyC ) not 10 days after starting. But lo, now comes the best copycat blog yet — Telegrams From Ron: http://bit.ly/HCKswj

NEW POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FILINGS: Nada.

NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS: Zilch.

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About The Author

Anna Palmer is a senior Washington correspondent for POLITICO and co-author of POLITICO’s Playbook, the most indispensable morning newsletter for the biggest influencers in politics.

Anna covers the world of Congress and politics, and has successfully chronicled the business of Washington insiders for years. Her stories take readers behind the scenes for the biggest fights in Washington as well as the 2016 election.

Prior to becoming POLITICO’s senior Washington correspondent, Anna was the co-author of the daily newsletter, POLITICO Influence, considered a must-read on K Street.

Anna previously covered House leadership and lobbying as a staff writer for Roll Call. She got her start in Washington journalism as a lobbying business reporter for the industry newsletter Influence. She has also worked at Legal Times, where she covered the intersection of money and politics for the legal and lobbying industry, first as a staff writer and then as an editor.

A native of North Dakota, Anna is a graduate of St. Olaf College, where she was executive editor of the weekly campus newspaper, the Manitou Messenger. She lives in Washington, D.C.

About The Author

Dave Levinthal reports on political influence issues for POLITICO. Before joining POLITICO, Dave worked for two years as editor of OpenSecrets.org at the Center for Responsive Politics, where he oversaw the Center's original journalism and provided analysis to hundreds of television, radio and print news outlets.

Between 2003 and 2009, Dave reported on Dallas City Hall for The Dallas Morning News, and from 2000 to 2002, covered the New Hampshire Statehouse for the Lawrence (Mass.) Eagle-Tribune. He graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in newspaper journalism and political philosophy and edited The Daily Orange.

Some may argue, but there is no more dedicated Bills fan than this Buffalo, N.Y., native.